Electronic device for controlling an external device using a number and method thereof

ABSTRACT

An electronic device and method for controlling an external device using a number are provided. The electronic device includes a processor configured to transmit an input number to a server over a mobile network, in response to a connection being input, receive an identifier of the external device, which is issued by the server, send a connection request to the external device over the mobile network using the received identifier of the external device, and control the external device by sending a control command to the external device, in response to receiving an indication regarding completion of access authentication from the external device, and a communication interface configured to perform communication with the external device and the server.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.61/929,234, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office onJan. 20, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/936,713, filed in theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 6, 2014, Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2014-0020909, filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Feb. 21, 2014, and Korean Patent Application No.10-2014-0167577, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onNov. 27, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Methods and devices consistent with the exemplary embodiments relate toan electronic device and a method for controlling the same, and moreparticularly, to an electronic device for effectively controlling anexternal device using a number and a method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, technology using electronic devices has been rapidlydeveloped. In particular, an electronic device can communicate with anexternal device over the Internet by being connected to a network.

In particular, the electronic device may be connected to the externaldevice over the network to provide a variety of services. For example,the electronic device and the external device may perform a function ofexchanging or sharing data with each other.

In recent years, the technology for the electronic device to control theexternal device over the network has been developed. However, in orderto control the external device, the electronic device should use specialequipment or perform a connection using a method which may be difficultto access.

The above information is presented as background information only inorder to assist with understanding the exemplary embodiments. Nodetermination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether anyof the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the presentdisclosure.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments provide an electronic device that cansend a connection request to an external device, using a phone number ofthe registered external device, which is issued in a server.

One or more exemplary embodiments also provide an electronic device thatcan receive an identifier of an external device based on a phone numberof the external device, and control the external device using theidentifier of the external device.

In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there isprovided an electronic device for controlling an external device using anumber. The electronic device includes a processor configured to:transmit an input number to a server over a mobile network, in responseto a connection being input; receive an identifier of the externaldevice, which is issued by the server; send a connection request to theexternal device over the mobile network using the received identifier ofthe external device; and control the external device by sending acontrol command to the external device, in response to receiving anindication regarding completion of access authentication from theexternal device; and a communication interface configured to performcommunication with the external device and the server.

In accordance with an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a server that includes a communication unit communicatorconfigured to perform communication with an electronic device and anexternal device; a controller is configured to register an externaldevice in the server, wherein the external device is a control target,and the controller is configured to receive an identification numberthat is input to the electronic device, from the electronic device;generate and issue an identification number of the registered externaldevice; determine whether the identification number received from theelectronic device is the same as the identification number of theregistered external device in order to perform service authentication;and control the communication interface to transmit an identifier of theexternal device to the electronic device; and a database configured tostore the issued identification number of the external device.

In accordance with an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a method for controlling an external device using a number. Themethod includes transmitting, from an electronic device, an input numberto a server over a mobile network, in response to a connection beinginput; receiving, at the electronic device, an identifier of theexternal device, which is issued in the server, from the server, inresponse to service authentication being performed when the input numberis the same as a number of the external device registered in the server;sending, from the electronic device, a connection request to theexternal device over the mobile network using the received identifier ofthe external device; and controlling the external device by sending acontrol command from the electronic device to the external device, inresponse to receiving an indication regarding completion of accessauthentication from the external device.

Other aspects and features of the exemplary embodiments will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects will be more apparent from the followingdescription of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment including an electronic deviceaccording to various exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates an electronic device, an external device and aserver, which are implemented in a method of controlling an externaldevice using a phone number, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a server that is connected to an externaldevice using a phone number, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an externaldevice using a phone number, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an electronic device and an externaldevice in a method of controlling the external device using a phonenumber, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate screens for registration of a control servicein a method of controlling an external device by using a phone number,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a process of performingaccess authentication for an electronic device according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 8A to 13B illustrate screens on which a method of controlling anexternal device using a phone number is executed, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate screens for registration of a controlservice, according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 15 illustrates a server in which access information is storedaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a case where an electronic device fails toaccess an external device based on access information, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a case where an electronic device accessesan external device based on access information, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an externaldevice, according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C illustrate a function or operation of receivingidentification information of an external device, which is stored in aserver, in response to a synchronization event and displaying thereceived identification information on an electronic device, accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a function or operation of receivinginformation on an external device, which is stored in a server, inresponse to an occurrence or detection of a synchronization event anddisplaying the received information on an electronic device, accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to variousexemplary embodiments; and

FIG. 22 illustrates a communication protocol between a plurality ofelectronic devices according to various exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skilled in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the exemplary embodiments describedherein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinventive concept. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness. Throughout thedrawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to likeparts, components, and structures.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used to enablea clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, itshould be apparent to those skilled in the art that the followingdescription of exemplary embodiments is provided for illustrationpurpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic,parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations orvariations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error,measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those ofskill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effectthe characteristic was intended to provide.

An electronic device according to various exemplary embodiments may be adevice equipped with a communication function. For example, theelectronic device may be at least one of a smart phone, a tabletPersonal Computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader,a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), an MP3 player, amobile medical device, a camera, and a wearable device (e.g., a HeadMounted Device (HMD) (such as electronic eyeglasses), electronicapparel, electronic bracelet, electronic necklace, electronic accessory,electronic tattoo, or smart watch).

In certain exemplary embodiments, the electronic device may be a smarthome appliance equipped with a communication function. The smart homeappliance may include at least one of, for example, a Television (TV), aDigital Video Disk (DVD) player, an audio player, a refrigerator, an airconditioner, a vacuum cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven, a washer, anair purifier, a set-top box, a TV box (e.g., a Samsung HomeSync™, anApple TV™, or a Google TV™), a game console, an electronic dictionary,an electronic key, a camcorder and an electronic photo frame.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the electronic device may be at leastone of various medical devices (e.g., Magnetic Resonance Angiography(MRA), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), amedical camcorder, a medical ultrasonic device, or the like), anavigation device, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an EventData Recorder (EDR), a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), an automotiveinfotainment device, a marine electronic device (e.g., a marinenavigation device, a gyro compass, or the like), an avionics, a securitydevice, a car head unit, an industrial or household robot, an AutomaticTeller's Machine (ATM) for banks, and a Point Of Sales (POS) for shops.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the electronic device may be at leastone of a part of the furniture or building/structure equipped with acommunication function, an electronic board, an electronic signaturereceiving device, a projector, and various metering devices (e.g., awater meter, an electricity meter, a gas meter, a radio wave meter, orthe like). The electronic device according to various exemplaryembodiments may be one of the above-described various devices, or acombination thereof. In addition, the electronic device according tovarious exemplary embodiments can be flexible and is not limited to aparticular device. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart that the electronic device according to various exemplaryembodiments is not limited to the above-described devices.

The electronic device according to various exemplary embodiments will bedescribed below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The term‘user’ as used herein may refer to a person using the electronic device,or a device (e.g., an intelligent electronic device) using theelectronic device.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment 10 including an electronicdevice 100 according to various exemplary embodiments. Referring to FIG.1, the electronic device 100 may include a bus 111, a processor 110, amemory 140, an Input/Output (I/O) interface 150, a display 130, and acommunication interface 120.

The bus 111 may be a circuit that connects the above-describedcomponents to each other, and sends communication signals (e.g., controlmessages) between the components.

The processor 110 may, for example, receive a command from the othercomponents (e.g., the memory 140, the I/O interface 150, the display130, the communication interface 120, or the like) through the bus 111,decrypt the received command, and execute an operation or dataprocessing based on the decrypted command.

The memory 140 may store the command or data, which is received from theprocessor 110 or the other components (e.g., the I/O interface 150, thedisplay 130, the communication interface 120, or the like), or generatedby the processor 110 or the other components. The memory 140 may includeprogramming modules such as, for example, a kernel 131, a middleware132, an Application Programming Interface (API) 133, or anapplication(s) 134. Each of the programming modules may be configured byone of software, firmware and hardware, or a combination thereof.

The kernel 131 may control or manage the system resources (e.g., the bus111, the processor 110, the memory 140, or the like) used to execute theoperation or function implemented in the other programming modules(e.g., the middleware 132, the API 133 or the application 134). Thekernel 131 may provide an interface through which the middleware 132,the API 133 or the application 134 can access the individual componentsof the electronic device 100, and control or manage the components.

The middleware 132 may play an intermediary role so that the API 133 orthe application 134 may communicate with the kernel 131 to exchange datawith each other. With respect to the work requests received from theapplication 134, the middleware 132 may, for example, perform control(e.g., scheduling or load balancing) for the work request, using amethod such as assigning the priority for using the system resources(e.g., the bus 111, the processor 110, the memory 140, or the like) ofthe electronic device 100, to at least one of the application(s) 134.

The API 133 may include at least one interface or function (e.g.,command) for, for example, file control, window control, imageprocessing or character control, as an interface through which theapplication 134 controls the function provided from the kernel 131 orthe middleware 132.

In various exemplary embodiments, the application 134 may include aShort Message Service (SMS)/Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)application, an e-mail application, a calendar application, an alarmapplication, a healthcare application (e.g., an application formeasuring an amount of exercise activity or a blood glucose level), oran environmental information application (e.g., an application forproviding the pressure, humidity or temperature information of anenvironment). Additionally or alternatively, the application 134 may bean application related to information exchange between the electronicdevice 100 and an external device (e.g., an external electronic device200). The information exchange-related application may include, forexample, a notification relay application for relaying specificinformation to the external device, or a device management applicationfor managing the external device.

For example, the notification relay application may include a functionof relaying the notification information generated in other applications(e.g., the SMS/MMS application, the e-mail application, the healthcareapplication, the environmental information application, or the like) ofthe electronic device 100, to the external device (e.g., the externalelectronic device 200). Additionally or alternatively, the notificationrelay application may, for example, receive notification informationfrom the external device (e.g., the external electronic device 200) andprovide the received notification information to the user. The devicemanagement application may, for example, manage a function (e.g., afunction of turning on/off the external device itself (or somecomponents thereof) or adjusting the brightness or resolution of adisplay thereof) of at least a part of the external device (e.g., theexternal electronic device 200) communicating with the electronic device100, or may manage (e.g., install, delete or update) the applicationoperating in the external device or the service (e.g., a call service ora message service) provided in the external device.

In various exemplary embodiments, the application 134 may include anapplication that is specified according to the properties (e.g., thetype of an electronic device) of the external device (e.g., the externalelectronic device 200). For example, if the external device is an MP3player, the application 134 may include an application related to musicplayback. Similarly, if the external device is a mobile medical device,the application 134 may include an application related to healthcare. Inone exemplary embodiment, the application 134 may include at least oneof an application specified in the electronic device 100, and anapplication received from the external device (e.g., a server 300 or theexternal electronic device 200).

The I/O interface 150 may, for example, send the command or data that isreceived from the user through an I/O device (e.g., a sensor, a keyboardor a touch screen), to the processor 110, the memory 140 or thecommunication interface 120 through the bus 111. For example, the I/Ointerface 150 may provide the data for a user's touch input on the touchscreen, to the processor 110. The I/O interface 150 may, for example,output the command or data that is received from the processor 110, thememory 140 or the communication interface 120 through the bus 111,externally through the I/O device (e.g., a speaker or a display). Forexample, the I/O interface 150 may output the voice data that isprocessed by the processor 110, to the user through the speaker.

The display 130 may display a variety of information (e.g., multimediadata, text data, or the like) for the user.

The communication interface 120 may establish communication between theelectronic device 100 and the external device (e.g., the externalelectronic device 200 or the server 300). For example, the communicationinterface 120 may be connected to a network 162 by wirelesscommunication or wired communication, to communicate with the externalelectronic device 200. The wireless communication may include at leastone of, for example, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth (BT), NearField Communication (NFC), GPS, and cellular communication (e.g., LongTerm Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), GlobalSystem for Mobile communications (GSM), or the like). The wiredcommunication may include at least one of, for example, Universal SerialBus (USB), High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), RecommendedStandard 232 (RS-232), and Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS).

In one exemplary embodiment, the network 162 may be a telecommunicationsnetwork. The telecommunications network may include at least one of acomputer network, the Internet, Internet of Things (IoT), and atelephone network. In one exemplary embodiment, a protocol (e.g., atransport layer protocol, a data link layer protocol or a physical layerprotocol) for communication between the electronic device 100 and theexternal device may be supported by at least one of the application 134,the API 133, the middleware 132, the kernel 131 or the communicationinterface 120.

FIG. 2 illustrates an electronic device, an external device and aserver, which are implemented in a method of controlling an externaldevice using a phone number according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device 100, the external device 200and the server 300 may be connected to the mobile network. Therefore,the electronic device 100, the external device 200 and the server 300may be connected to the Internet over the mobile network. The electronicdevice 100 and the external device 200 may be assigned their ownInternet Protocol (IP) addresses, to perform an Internet connection overthe mobile network.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a server that is connected to an externaldevice using a phone number according to an exemplary embodiment. Aphone number is a number of a device which is capable of establishing aconnection over a mobile network.

The server 300 may include a controller 310 and a database 350. Thecontroller 310 may include a service registrator 320, a serviceidentifier 330, and a service authenticator 340. However, the serviceregistrator 320, the service identifier 330 and the serviceauthenticator 340 may be configured separately from the controller 310.The service registrator 320 may register the external device in thecontrol service provided in the server 300. An identifier issuer 324 inthe server 300 may issue an external device identifier corresponding tothe external device. A mapper 326 in the server 300 may match a phonenumber of the external device to the issued identifier. The database 350may include a database that stores data 360 about the registeredexternal device. For example, data 360 about the registered externaldevice may include an external device identifier 361, external devicephone number 362, and external device information 363. The database 350may store therein, service subscription information 364 and an externaldevice routing table 365. The service subscription information 364 mayinclude a phone number, a service type and Media Access Control (MAC)information of the external device. The external device routing table365 may include or store therein, a phone number and a Uniform ResourceIdentifier (URI) of the external device. The server 300 according toanother exemplary embodiment may include a communicator 370. Thecommunicator 370 may be connected to the electronic device 100 and theexternal device 200 over a predetermined network, to transmit andreceive a variety of data to/from them.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an externaldevice using a phone number according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, in a method of controlling an external device usinga phone number according to an exemplary embodiment, the electronicdevice 100, the external device 200 and the server 300 may be connectedto the mobile network in operation S410. Therefore, the electronicdevice 100, the external device 200 and the server 300 may access theInternet over the mobile network. The electronic device 100 and theexternal device 200 may establish an Internet connection over the mobilenetwork, since the electronic device 100 and the external device 200 areassigned their own IP addresses. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of anelectronic device and an external device in a method of controlling anexternal device using a phone number according to an exemplaryembodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the electronic device 100 may be, forexample, a mobile device, and the external device 200 may be, forexample, a TV. Thus, as described below, the electronic device 100 maycontrol the external device 200 using a phone number.

Next, in operation S420, the external device 200 may be registered inthe control service provided in the server 300. In other words, theexternal device 200 may be registered in the server 300 in relation tothe control service. The registration may mean that the control servicecan be executed in the external device 200. The external device 200 maybe registered in the control service provided in the server 300 by theservice registrator 320 included in the server 300.

A processor 210 of the external device 200 may send a registrationrequest for the control service to the server 300. In addition, aregistration request for the control service may be made even by anotherdevice other than the external device 200 in which the control serviceis provided. For example, if the external device 200, in which thecontrol service is provided, is a TV, a registration request for thecontrol service may be made by a PC which is a device other than the TVwhich is the external device 200. Therefore, a registration request forthe control service may be made not only by the external device 200 inwhich the control service is provided, but also by a separate device.The process in which a registration request for the control service ismade by the separate device may be the same as the process in which theregistration request for the control service is made in operation S420by the external device 200 in which the control service is provided.

The server 300 may form a screen for registration of the controlservice. The server 300 may transmit the screen for registration of thecontrol service to the external device 200.

For example, the screen for registration of the control service may beformed as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate screens600 and 700 for registration of a control service in a method ofcontrolling an external device using a phone number, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6A illustrates a screen 600 for registration of the control servicefor an external device that includes a phone number. FIG. 6B illustratesa screen 700 for registration of a control service for an externaldevice that does not include a phone number and receives a phone numberissued by the server 300.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the screen 600 for registration of the controlservice may include windows for receiving inputs for a nickname 612, aphone number 614, an icon 616 and a service type 610 of the externaldevice. In addition, the screen 600 for registration of the controlservice may include a ‘Join Service’ button (or a service subscriptionbutton) 630. The screen 600 for registration of the control service mayfurther include a phone number 622, an issued identifier 624 and an‘Issue Identifier’ button 620 of the external device.

The processor 210 of the external device 200 may receive each of thenickname 612, the phone number 614, the icon 616 and the service type610 of the external device through the windows for receiving inputs forthe nickname 612, the phone number 614, the icon 616 and the servicetype 610 of the external device. The nickname 612 of the external devicemay mean a name of the external device which the user selects for thedevice. The phone number 614 may mean a phone number which is includedin the external device. The icon 616 may mean an image icon whichrepresents the external device. The service type 610 may mean a type ofthe service in which the external device can be controlled by theelectronic device. For example, the service type may be ‘TV Monitor’,‘Whiteboard’, and ‘Video Share’.

The processor 210 of the external device 200 may receive a registrationrequest for the control service of the external device 200 in responseto selection of the ‘Join Service’ button 630 on the screen forregistration of the control service. In other words, the processor 210of the external device 200 may start sending a registration request forthe control service to the server 300, upon detecting the selection ofthe ‘Join Service’ button 630.

The processor 210 of the external device 200 may send an issuancerequest for an identifier to the server 300 in response to selection ofthe ‘Issue Identifier’ button 620. In other words, the processor 210 ofthe external device 200 may start sending an issuance request for anidentifier to the server 300, upon detecting the selection of the ‘IssueIdentifier’ button 620. The processor 210 of the external device 200 maydisplay the phone number 622 and the issued identifier 624 of theexternal device.

Referring to FIG. 6B, the screen 700 for registration of the controlservice may include windows for receiving inputs for a nickname 712, anidentifier 714, an icon 716 and a service type 710 of the externaldevice. In addition, the screen 700 for registration of the controlservice may include a ‘Join Service’ button 730. The screen 700 forregistration of the control service may further include an issued phonenumber 722, an issued identifier 724 and an ‘Issue’ button 720 of theexternal device.

The processor 210 of the external device 200 may receive each of thenickname 712, the identifier 714, the icon 716 and the service type 710of the external device through the windows for receiving inputs for thenickname 712, the identifier 714, the icon 716 and the service type 710of the external device. The nickname 712 of the external device may meana name of the external device that the user selects for the device. Theidentifier 714 may be information (e.g., MAC or IP) which identifies theexternal device 200. The icon 716 may mean an image icon representingthe external device. The service type 710 may mean a type of service inwhich the external device can be controlled by the electronic device.For example, the service type may be ‘TV Monitor’, ‘Whiteboard’, and‘Video Share’.

The processor 210 of the external device 200 may receive a registrationrequest for the control service of the external device 200 in responseto selection of the ‘Join Service’ button 730 on the screen forregistration of the control service. In other words, the processor 210of the external device 200 may start sending a registration request forthe control service to the server 300, upon detecting the selection ofthe ‘Join Service’ button 730.

The processor 210 of the external device 200 may receive an issuancerequest for a phone number and an identifier to the server 300 inresponse to selection of the ‘Issue’ button 720. In other words, theprocessor 210 of the external device 200 may start sending an issuancerequest for a phone number and an identifier to the server 300, upondetecting the selection of the ‘Issue’ button 720. The processor 210 ofthe external device 200 may display the issued phone number 722 and theissued identifier 724.

The identifier issuer 324 in the server 300 may issue an external deviceidentifier corresponding to the external device. For example, theidentifier may be a URI or an IP. The URI may be a unique addressrepresenting the resources existing on the Internet. The existence ofthe URI is the basic condition required in the Internet, and the URI mayalways be attached to the IP. Therefore, if the identifier such as theURI is issued for the external device 200, the identifier such as theURI may indicate the external device 200 in the Internet connection overthe mobile network. Therefore, using the identifier issued for theexternal device 200, the electronic device 100 may be directly connectedto the external device 200 over the mobile network.

The mapper 326 in the server 300 may match a phone number of theexternal device to the issued identifier. Therefore, even if theelectronic device 100 uses only the phone number of the external device200, the electronic device 100 may access the identifier of the externaldevice 200. The processor 210 of the external device 200 may store thephone number of the external device 200 and the issued identifier, whichare mapped to each other, in the database 350 of the server 300.

If a phone number is not included in the external device 200, a phonenumber issuer 322 in the server 300 may issue an external device's phonenumber which corresponds to the external device 200. The server 300 maystore the issued external device's phone number in the database 350.Therefore, the mapper 326 in the server 300 may match the issued phonenumber of the external device 200 to the issued identifier. Thus, evenif the electronic device 100 uses only the issued phone number of theexternal device 200, the electronic device 100 may access the identifierof the external device 200. The processor 210 of the external device 200may store the issued phone number of the external device 200 and theissued identifier, which are mapped to each other, in the database 350of the server 300.

The server 300 also includes a service type inputter 328.

Therefore, the server 300 may register the external device 200 in thecontrol service in response to the registration request for the controlservice from the external device 200.

In FIG. 5, a TV is shown as an example of external device 200. Windowsfor receiving inputs for the nickname 712, the identifier 714, the icon716 and the service type 710 of the external device may be displayed onthe TV screen, for the external device 200 such as the TV. The nickname712 of the external device may be entered as ‘Albert DTV’, and theservice type 710 may be entered as ‘TV Monitor’, ‘Whiteboard’, or ‘VideoShare’. The processor 210 of the TV 200 may start sending a registrationrequest for the control service to the server 300, upon detecting theselection of the ‘Join Service’ button 730. The processor 210 of the TV200 may start sending an issuance request for a phone number and anidentifier to the server 300, upon detecting the selection of the‘Issue’ button 720. The identifier issuer 324 in the server 300 mayissue an external device identifier corresponding to the TV. The phonenumber issuer 322 in the server 300 may issue a phone number such as‘02044778502’ corresponding to the TV. The mapper 326 in the server 300may match the issued phone number of the TV to the issued identifier.The server 300 may register the TV 200 in the control service inresponse to the registration request for the control service of the TV200.

Next, in operation S430, the electronic device 100 may receive anoutgoing phone number (or a phone number to be dialed) that is input bythe user of the device. The processor 110 of the electronic device 100may receive the outgoing phone number.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate screens of an electronic device and an externaldevice, which are implemented in a method of controlling an externaldevice using a phone number, according to an exemplary embodiment. Forexample, referring to FIG. 8A, the processor 110 of the electronicdevice 100 may run a phone application. The processor 110 may receivethe outgoing phone number by detecting an input of dial buttons includedin the phone application. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, theprocessor 110 may receive an outgoing phone number such as ‘02044778502’800. The processor 110 may extract and display, from the memory 140, thecaller name corresponding to the outgoing phone number ‘02044778502’800. Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, the processor 110 may extract anddisplay, from the memory 140, the caller name (e.g., ‘Albert DTV’ 810)which corresponds to outgoing phone number s ‘02044778502’ 800.

Next, in operation S440, the electronic device 100 may receive a callconnection that is input by the user. In other words, the processor 110of the electronic device 100 may receive the call connection. Forexample, the processor 110 may receive the call connection by receivingan input from the call icon 820 included in the phone application. Asshown in FIG. 8A, the processor 110 may receive an input for a selectionof a call icon 820 included in the phone application. The processor 110may receive the call connection by detecting an input which selects thecall icon 820.

Next, in operation S450, the electronic device 100 may transmit theinput phone number to the server 300 over the mobile network. Theprocessor 110 of the electronic device 100 may transmit the input phonenumber 800 to the server 300 over the mobile network. For example, asshown in FIG. 8A, the input phone number 800 may be ‘02044778502’ 800.The processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may transmit the inputphone number 800 such as ‘02044778502’ to the server 300 over the mobilenetwork.

Next, in operation S460 (or in the service identification operation),the server 300 may determine whether the input phone number is the sameas a phone number of the registered external device 200. In other words,the controller 310 of the server 300 may determine whether the inputphone number is the same as a phone number of the external device 200,which is registered in the database 350.

The controller 310 of the server 300 may extract, from the database 350,the phone number of the external device 200 registered in the controlservice provided in the server 300.

The controller 310 of the server 300 may determine whether the phonenumber of the external device 200 registered in the control service,which is extracted from the database 350, is the same as the phonenumber received from the electronic device 100.

For example, with respect to the TV 200 which is the external device 200shown in FIG. 5, in operation S420, the phone number that is extractedfrom the database 350 for the TV 200 may be ‘02044778502’. In FIG. 8A,the phone number received from the electronic device 100 may be‘02044778502’. Therefore, the controller 310 of the server 300 maydetermine that the phone number of the external device 200 registered inthe control service, which is extracted from the database 350 in FIG. 3,is the same as the phone number that is received from the electronicdevice 100 in FIG. 8A.

Next, in operation S470 (or in service authentication operation), if theinput phone number is the same as the phone number of the registeredexternal device, then the server 300 may perform authentication for theinput phone number. In other words, if the input phone number is thesame as the phone number of the registered external device, thecontroller 310 of the server 300 may perform authentication for theinput phone number.

For example, since the phone number that is received from the electronicdevice 100 in FIG. 8A is the same as the phone number ‘02044778502’ ofthe TV 200, which is extracted, the controller 310 of the server 300 mayperform authentication for the input phone number ‘02044778502’.Therefore, the phone number corresponding to ‘02044778502’ may be theauthenticated phone number.

Next, in operation S480, if the service authentication is performed forthe input phone number, the server 300 may transmit an identifier of theregistered external device 200. In other words, if the serviceauthentication is performed for the input phone number, the controller310 of the server 300 may extract an identifier of the registeredexternal device 200 from the database 350 and transmit the extractedidentifier. The processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may store thereceived identifier of the external device 200 in the memory 140.

For example, since authentication has been performed for the phonenumber s ‘02044778502’ shown in FIG. 8A, the controller 310 of theserver 300 may extract a URI of the TV 200, shown in FIG. 5, whichcorresponds to the phone number ‘02044778502’, from the database 350,and transmits the extracted URI. Therefore, the processor 110 of theelectronic device 100 may receive an identifier of the TV 200 from theserver 300.

Next, in operation S490, the electronic device 100 may send a connectionrequest to the external device 200 over the mobile network using thereceived external device identifier. In other words, the processor 110of the electronic device 100 may send a connection request to theexternal device 200 over the mobile network using the received externaldevice identifier.

For example, if the received external device identifier is theidentifier of the TV 200 shown in FIG. 5, the processor 110 of theelectronic device 100 in FIG. 8A may send a connection request to theexternal device 200 which corresponds to the TV 200 over the mobilenetwork using the identifier such as the URI.

Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device100 may send a connection request to the external device 200 using thephone number of the registered external device, which is issued in theserver 300. In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment, theelectronic device 100 may send a connection request to the externaldevice 200 using the identifier of the external device 200, making itpossible to automatically make a connection request to the externaldevice 200 without requiring user intervention.

Next, in operation S500, the external device 200 may perform accessauthentication with the electronic device 100. In other words, theprocessor 210 of the external device 200 may perform accessauthentication with the electronic device 100.

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a process of performingaccess authentication with an electronic device according to anexemplary embodiment. In other words, FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart foroperation S500 in FIG. 4. Therefore, the access authentication processwill be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 7.

At operation S502, the electronic device 100 may receive a request foran authentication code from the external device 200. In other words, theprocessor 210 of the external device 200 may send a request for anauthentication code to the electronic device 100.

Next, in operation S504, the electronic device 100 may receive anauthentication code that is input by the user. The processor 110 of theelectronic device 100 may display a window through which the electronicdevice 100 has received the authentication code. For example, as shownin FIG. 8B, the processor 110 may display a window in which theelectronic device 100 has received the authentication code. In otherwords, the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may display anitem 840 through which the electronic device 100 receives theauthentication code (or a password). The processor 110 may receive theauthentication code through an input for the item 840. For example, theauthentication code (or a password) may be a combined code of numbers,letters and symbols, such as ‘12345#abd’. As shown in FIG. 8B, theprocessor 110 may display information 830 (e.g., the type or image ofthe device) about the external device 200.

Next, in operation S506, the electronic device 100 may transmit theinput authentication code to the external device 200. In other words,the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may transmit the inputauthentication code to the external device 200.

Next, in operation S507, the external device 200 may determine whetherthe input authentication code is the same as the preregisteredauthentication code. In other words, the processor 210 of the externaldevice 200 may determine whether the input authentication code is thesame as the preregistered authentication code. The preregisteredauthentication code may be input in advance in association with theexternal device 200, and then stored in the database 350. Therefore, theprocessor 210 of the external device 200 may determine whether the inputauthentication code received from the electronic device 100 is the sameas the preregistered authentication code extracted from the database350.

Next, in operation S508, if the input authentication code is the same asthe preregistered authentication code, the external device 200 maycomplete the access authentication. In other words, if the inputauthentication code is the same as the preregistered authenticationcode, the processor 210 of the external device 200 may complete theaccess authentication. In other words, since the case where the inputauthentication code is the same as the preregistered authentication codecorresponds to the case where the access authentication is successful,the processor 210 of the external device 200 may complete the accessauthentication. Thereafter, the processor 210 may proceed to operationS510 which is the next operation.

However, in operation S509, if the input authentication code is not thesame as the preregistered authentication code, the external device 200may send a re-input request for an authentication code to the electronicdevice 100. If the input authentication code is not the same as thepreregistered authentication code, the processor 210 of the externaldevice 200 may not allow the access authentication. Therefore, theprocessor 210 of the external device 200 may send a re-input request foran authentication code to the electronic device 100. In this case, theelectronic device 100 may return to operation S504 and receive anotherauthentication code that is re-input by the user. Thereafter, theexternal device 200 may proceed again to operations S506 to S508.

Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device100 may request control of the external device 200 by performing accessauthentication with the external device 200.

Next, referring back to FIG. 4, in operation S510, upon receiving anindication from the external device 200 that access authentication iscompleted, the electronic device 100 may control the external device 200by sending a control command to the external device 200.

In other words, in operation S520, upon receiving an indication from theexternal device 200 that access authentication is completed, theprocessor 110 of the electronic device 100 may receive a control commandthat is input by the user. The processor 110 of the electronic device100 may receive a control command through a control menu. In otherwords, the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may display thecontrol menu on the display 130.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8C, the processor 110 of the electronicdevice 100 may display a control menu 850 on the display 130. In thiscase, the processor 110 may display the control menu 850 including aservice type 862 on the display 130. For example, the service type 862may be ‘TV Monitor’ 870, ‘Whiteboard’ 872 and ‘Video Share’ 874. In thiscase, the processor 110 may display an icon corresponding to each of theservice types.

Next, in operation S530, the electronic device 100 may send the controlcommand to the external device 200. In other words, the processor 110 ofthe electronic device 100 may receive the control command that is inputby the user. The processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may send theinput control command to the external device 200.

For example, the processor 110 may receive the control command byreceiving an input for a selection of an icon for the service typeincluded in the control menu. As shown in FIG. 8C, the processor 110 mayreceive the control command by receiving an input for a selection of anyone of icons 870, 872 and 874 for the service types included in thecontrol menu 862. For example, the processor 110 may receive an inputfor a selection of the icon 870 for the service type ‘TV Monitor’. Inthis case, as the display 130 of the electronic device 100 is formed asa touch screen, the processor 110 may receive an input for a selectionof the service type ‘TV Monitor’ by detecting a touch on the icon 870for the service type such as ‘TV Monitor’. Therefore, the processor 110may receive the control command to execute the service type ‘TV Monitor’by receiving an input for a selection of the service type ‘TV Monitor’.In other words, the processor 110 may receive the control command toexecute the service type ‘TV Monitor’ in the external device 200. Theprocessor 110 of the electronic device 100 may transmit the inputcontrol command to the external device 200. In other words, theprocessor 110 of the electronic device 100 may transmit the controlcommand to execute the service ‘TV Monitor’ to the external device 200.

Next, in operation S540, the external device 200 may execute the controlcommand. In other words, the processor 210 of the external device 200may execute the control command received from the electronic device 100.

For example, if the processor 210 of the external device 200 receivesthe control command to execute the service type ‘TV Monitor,’ shown inFIG. 8C, the processor 210 of the external device 200 may execute thecontrol command to execute the service type ‘TV Monitor’ as shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B. Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the processor 210 of theexternal device 200, such as the ‘TV,’ may execute the control command‘TV Monitor’. The service type ‘TV Monitor’ may mean a service in which‘TV’ corresponding to the external device 200 can be used as a monitor.In other words, the service type ‘TV Monitor’ may mean a service inwhich an image or video captured by a camera 270 included in ‘TV,’ whichcorresponds to the external device 200, can be displayed on theelectronic device 100. In other words, as shown in FIG. 9A, if theservice type ‘TV Monitor’ is used, an image or video 860 captured by thecamera 270 included in ‘TV,’ which corresponds to the external device200, may be displayed on the display 130 of the electronic device 100.Therefore, the user of the electronic device 100, such as a mobiledevice, may recognize the image or video 860 captured by the camera 270of the ‘TV’ 200, on the display 130 of the electronic device 100. Inother words, the user of the mobile device may recognize in real timethe image or video 860 captured by the camera 270 of the TV that ispresent in the remote location.

As another example, if the processor 210 of the external device 200receives the control command to execute the service type ‘Whiteboard’872 in FIG. 8C, the processor 210 of the external device 200 may executethe control command to execute the service type ‘Whiteboard’ as shown inFIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B. Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, theprocessor 210 of the external device 200, such as a TV, may execute thecontrol command ‘Whiteboard’ 872. In this case, the service type‘Whiteboard’ may mean a service in which the display 130 of theelectronic device 100 is used as a whiteboard to display the notes thatare input on the whiteboard, and the notes that are input on theelectronic device 100 appear on a display 230 of the external device 200in the same way in real time. Referring to FIG. 10A, the notes that areinput on a whiteboard window 860 included in the display 130 of theelectronic device 100, such as a mobile device, may be displayed on thedisplay 230 of the external device, such as TV, in the same way. Inother words, if notes are made on the whiteboard window 860 included inthe display 130 of the electronic device 100, such as a mobile device,the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may transmit the datarelating to the notes to the external device 200. The external device200 may display the received notes on the display 230, the same way andin real time. Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, editing relating to thenotes may be input in the whiteboard window 860 displayed on the display130 of the electronic device 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, theediting may be a change 920 in color of an input text 910. In this case,the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may transmit the data forthe editing relating to the notes to the external device 200. Byexecuting the received data for the editing relating to the notes, theexternal device 200 may edit the notes displayed on the display 230 inreal time. Therefore, if the service ‘Whiteboard’ is used, the user ofthe electronic device 100, such as a mobile device, may input or makenotes on the mobile device 100, and show the notes to the user of the TV200, which exists in a remote place from the electronic device, in realtime. Therefore, if the service ‘Whiteboard’ is used, the mobile devicecan be used as a whiteboard that is displayed on the TV which existsremotely from the mobile device.

As another example, if the processor 210 of the external device 200receives the control command to execute the service type ‘Video Share’874, as shown in FIG. 8C, the processor 210 of the external device 200may execute the control command to execute the service type ‘VideoShare’ as further described in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B. Referring toFIGS. 12A and 12B, the processor 210 of the external device 200, such asa TV, may execute the control command ‘Video Share’ 874. In this case,the service type ‘Video Share’ may mean a service in which the videobeing played on the electronic device 100 is played on the externaldevice 200 in the same way. Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, theprocessor 110 of the electronic device 100, such as a mobile device, mayplay a video 860. The processor 210 of the external device 200 mayexecute the control command to execute the service type ‘Video Share’.In other words, the processor 210 of the external device 200, such asTV, may play the video 860, which is being played on the electronicdevice 100, on its display 220 in the same way and in real time. Inother words, according to the control command to execute the servicetype ‘Video Share’, the electronic device 100 and the external device200 may play and share the video 860. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 13Aand 13B, the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may receive aplayback-related command during playback of the video 860. Theplayback-related command may include commands such as, Start, Pause,Stop, Forward and Back. In this case, if the playback-related command isinput to the electronic device 100, the processor 110 of the electronicdevice 100 may send the playback-related command to the external device200. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the processor 110 ofthe electronic device 100, such as a mobile device, may receive theplayback-related command, such as Forward, by detecting a left-to-rightdrag 930 for an icon 934 included in a play bar 932. The processor 110of the electronic device 100 may send the playback-related command, suchas Forward, to the external device 200. The processor 210 of theexternal device 200 may execute the playback-related command such asForward. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, if theplayback-related command is input in the electronic device 100, theplayback-related command may be executed in the external device 200 inthe same way.

Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic devicemay receive an identifier of the external device based on a phone numberof the external device, and control the external device using theidentifier of the external device. In particular, according to anexemplary embodiment, since the electronic device can easily startcontrol of the external device using the phone number of the externaldevice, a separate gateway device is not necessary and there is no needto install a separate application.

Next, in operation S550, the electronic device 100 may receive a calltermination that is input by the user. In other words, the processor 110of the electronic device 100 may receive the call termination. Forexample, the processor 110 may receive the call termination by receivingan input for a selection of an End Call icon included in the phoneapplication.

Next, in operation S560, the electronic device 100 may terminate theconnection with the mobile network. If the call termination is input,the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may terminate theconnection with the mobile network. In this case, the processor 110 ofthe electronic device 100 may terminate the mobile network connectionbetween the server 300 and the external device 200.

Next, in operation S570, the electronic device 100 may store the accesshistory information of the external device 200 in the memory 140. Inother words, the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 may storethe access history information of the external device 200 in the memory140. The access history information of the external device 200 may besuch information as a phone number, an identifier, a service type, and aconnection start and end time of the external device. For example, ifthe electronic device 100, such as a mobile device, performs the servicetype ‘TV Monitor’ 870 with the external device 200, such as TV, as shownin FIGS. 9A and 9B, the processor 110 of the electronic device 100 maystore such information as a phone number, an identifier, and aconnection start and end time of the external device 200, in the memory140.

Next, in operation S580, the electronic device 100 may display theaccess history information on the display 130. Upon receiving a commandto display the access history information, the processor 110 of theelectronic device 100 may display the access history information on thedisplay 130. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, upon receiving acommand to display the access history information, the processor 110 maydisplay, on the display 130, the access history information such as aphone number, an identifier, and a connection start and end time of theexternal device 200, such as TV. Therefore, according to an exemplaryembodiment, the user of the electronic device 100 may check the accesshistory information of the external device 200 that the user hasaccessed.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate screens for registration of a controlservice according to another exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIGS.14A and 14B, the screens for registration of a control service accordingto another exemplary embodiment may be displayed on the external deviceas shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B.

Referring to FIG. 14A, a screen 1400 a for registration of the controlservice may include windows for receiving inputs for a nickname 1412 a,a phone number 1414 a, an icon 1416 a and a service type 1410 a of theexternal device. In addition, the screen 1400 a for registration of thecontrol service may include a ‘Join Service’ button 1440 a. The screen1400 a for registration of the control service may further include aphone number 1422 a, an issued identifier 1424 a and an ‘IssueIdentifier’ button 1420 a of the external device. The screen 1400 a forregistration of a control service according to another exemplaryembodiment may further include a ‘Set Access Rights’ button 1430 a. Theuser who wants to register the external device 200 may set an accessgroup capable of performing the control service, by making access to theexternal device 200 available by using the ‘Set Access Rights’ button1430 a. The access group may include, for example, “family”,“individual” and “public”.

The access group may be specified by the user who desires to registerthe external device 200. For example, the access group may be set byreceiving an input access group (e.g., “family”) corresponding to theaccess rights information after receiving an identification number(e.g., “010-2211-3344”), which is input by the user, of the electronicdevice 100 that can access the external device 200. The external device200 may receive and store a list of phone numbers which are grouped andclassified by a user terminal (e.g., the electronic device 100), and ifthe access rights information is input to the external device 200, anaccess group corresponding to the access rights information may beautomatically set depending on the stored phone number list. Herein,various information such as a phone number corresponding to the externaldevice, service subscription information 364, a routing table 365, andaccess information for controlling the external device 200 as needed maybe collectively referred to as ‘identification information’.

The “family” as the access group may mean that with respect to the userscapable of accessing the external device 200 to control the externaldevice 200, only the family of the user who has registered the controlservice for the external device 200 can access the external device 200.For example, if the external device 200 is “TV in the living room”, theaccess group may be set as “family” by the user. The “individual” as theaccess group may mean that only the user himself/herself who registeredthe control service or only one person specified by the user can accessthe external device 200. For example, a “laptop computer”, in which avariety of personal information of the user is stored, may be set as“individual” by the user. The “public” access group may mean that anyuser can access the external device 200. For example, a “public printer”located in the library may be set as “public” by the user who desires toregister the external device 200 in the control service. The accessgroups “family”, “individual” and “public” have been illustrativelymentioned for convenience of description, but the types of the accessgroups according to an exemplary embodiment will not be limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 14B, a screen 1400 b for registration of the controlservice may include windows for receiving inputs for a nickname 1412 b,a phone number 1414 b, an icon 1416 b and a service type 1410 b of theexternal device. In addition, the screen 1400 b for registration of thecontrol service may include a ‘Join Service’ button 1440 b. The screen1400 b for registration of the control service may further include anissued phone number 1422 b, an issued identifier 1424 b, an ‘Issue’button 1420 b and a ‘Set Access Rights’ button 1430 b of the externaldevice. For the components shown in FIG. 14B, excluding the ‘Set AccessRights’ button 1430 b, the above description made in connection withFIG. 6B may be applied in the same way. In addition, for the function(s)or operation(s) performed by the ‘Set Access Rights’ button 1430 b, thedescription of the ‘Set Access Rights’ button 1430 a, which has beenmade in connection with FIG. 14A may be applied in the same way.

FIG. 15 illustrates a server in which access information is storedaccording to another exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 15, a server 1500 according to another exemplaryembodiment may include a controller 1510 and a database 1550. Thecontroller 1510 may include a service registrator 1520, a serviceidentifier 1530 and a service authenticator 1540. However, the serviceregistrator 1520, the service identifier 1530 and the serviceauthenticator 1540 may be configured separately from the controller1510. The service registrator 1520 may register the external device inthe control service provided in the server 1500. An identifier issuer1524 in the server 1500 may issue an external device identifiercorresponding to the external device 200. A mapper 1526 in the server1500 may match a phone number of the external device to the issuedidentifier. The database 1550 may include a database that stores data1560 about the registered external device such as external deviceidentifier 1561, external device phone number 1562, and external deviceinformation 1563. The server 1500 (or the database 1550) may storetherein, service subscription information 1564 and an external devicerouting table 1565. The service subscription information 1564 mayinclude a phone number, a service type and MAC information of theexternal device 200. The external device routing table 1565 may includeor store therein, a phone number and a URI of the external device 200.The server 1500 according to another exemplary embodiment may include acommunicator 1570. The communicator 1570 may be connected to theelectronic device 100 and the external device 200 over a predeterminednetwork, to transmit and receive a variety of data to/from them.

The server 1500 according to another exemplary embodiment may storeinformation 1566 (hereinafter referred to as ‘access information’)related to the access rights setting, in the database 1550. As shown inFIG. 15, the access information may include a phone number indicatingthe external device 200 which is a control target, an identificationnumber (e.g., a phone number) of an electronic device(s) 100 that isgranted access rights to control the external device 200, and an accessgroup's type (e.g., “family”, “individual” or “public”). The server 1500may receive the access rights information and the access group's typefrom the external device 200. As shown in FIG. 15, the server 1500 maystore the received access rights information and the received accessgroup's type to correspond to a phone number of their associatedexternal device 200. In this manner, the type of the access groupcapable of accessing the external device 200 may be specified accordingto the access group. As for a function or operation in which theexternal device 200 is registered in the server 1500, the serviceregistration operation of the external device 200, which has beendescribed in connection with FIGS. 2 to 7, may be applied in the sameway.

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a case where an electronic device fails toaccess an external device based on access information, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 16A, if, for example, the electronic device 100 thatdoes not have access rights to the external device 200 selects a Callicon 820 after receiving an input phone number 800 corresponding to theexternal device (e.g., Albert DTV 810) to control the external device ofAlbert DTV 810, the electronic device 100 may send an access request tothe server (e.g., the server 300). The access request may include anidentification number (e.g., a phone number) of the electronic device100. If the electronic device 100 does not have access rights to theexternal device of Albert DTV 810, the electronic device 100 may receivean access-denied response from the server 300, and display anaccess-denied message 880 as shown in FIG. 16B.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a case where an electronic device accessesan external device based on access information, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 17A, if, for example, the electronic device 100 thathas access rights to the external device 200 selects a Call icon 820after receiving an input phone number 800 which corresponds to theexternal device (e.g., Albert DTV 810) to control the external device ofAlbert DTV 810, the electronic device 100 may send an access request tothe server (e.g., the server 300). If the electronic device 100 hasaccess rights to the external device of Albert DTV 810, the electronicdevice 100 may display a screen for controlling the external device ofAlbert DTV 810 as shown in FIG. 17B. On the displayed screen there maybe displayed a service type 862 that includes, for example, TV Monitor870, Whiteboard 872 and Video Share 874. If the service type TV Monitor870 is used as described in connection with FIG. 8, an image or video860 captured by the camera included in the external device 200 (e.g.,TV) may be displayed on the display 130 of the electronic device 100.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an externaldevice according to another exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 18, the method of controlling an external deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment may be the same as the methoddescribed in connection with FIG. 4 except that operation S452 ofdetermining whether the electronic device 100 has access rights,operation S454 of sending a request to display an access-denied messagein response to an access request upon receiving the access request(e.g., operation S450 of sending a phone number to the server 300) fromthe electronic device that does not have access rights, and operationS456 of displaying the access-denied message upon request of the server300. If it is determined in operation S452 that the electronic device100 is an electronic device that has the fair access rights, the controlservice may be performed among the electronic device 100, the externaldevice 200 and the server 300, in operation S510. In addition, sinceother operations shown in FIG. 18 are the same as the correspondingoperations described in FIG. 4, a detailed description thereof will beomitted.

FIGS. 19A to 19C illustrate a function or operation of receivingidentification information of an external device, which is stored in aserver, in response to a synchronization event and displaying thereceived identification information on an electronic device, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 19A, a phonebook list including phonebook items 1911,1912, 1913 and 1914 may be displayed in a phonebook application. Images1911 a, 1912 a, 1913 a and 1914 a of the user and/or his acquaintancescorresponding to the phonebook items 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914 may bedisplayed together in the phonebook list. After exiting the phonebookapplication, the user may press the Home button 1940 to view a homescreen 1930. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 19B, the home screen 1930 maybe displayed on the electronic device 100, and the user may select aphonebook application 1932 to check the phonebook list. If an event toselect, for example, the phonebook application 1932 is detected as shownin FIG. 19B, the electronic device 100 may detect the event as asynchronization event. In other words, if the synchronization event(e.g., execution of the phonebook application) is detected to receive(e.g., to synchronize the electronic device with the server in terms ofthe phonebook data) identification information of various externaldevices (e.g., the external device 200), which is stored in the server(e.g., the server 300), the electronic device 100 may send a request foridentification information of the external device 200 to the server 300.Although “execution of application” has been illustratively mentioned asan example of the synchronization event, this is merely an example. Thesynchronization event may be include, for example, a case where anapplication is terminated, a case where a predetermined time haselapsed, a case where a time interval is specified at which thesynchronization is periodically performed, and a case where theelectronic device is powered on/off.

Referring to FIG. 19C, if the synchronization event occurs and isdetected as shown in FIG. 19B, the electronic device 100 may receiveidentification information of the external device 200 from the server300, and display items 1915, 1916 and 1917 of the external device 200capable of performing the control service. In this case, the items forthe external device 200 may display together images 1915 a, 1916 a and1917 a and/or external device indication messages 1915 b, 1916 b and1917 b corresponding to items 1915, 1916 and 1917, in order todistinguish the user and/or his acquaintances. However, for example, ifthe exemplary embodiment(s) described in connection with FIG. 19 isapplied to the electronic device 100 or a method for controlling theelectronic device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment, it maybe premised that the electronic device 100 has access rights to theitems of the external device 200, which are displayed in the phonebookapplication.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a function or operation of receivinginformation on an external device, which is stored in a server, inresponse to an occurrence or detection of a synchronization event anddisplaying the received information on an electronic device, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 20, in operation S2010, an electronic device 100 maydetect an occurrence of a synchronization event for identificationinformation of an external device 200. In operation S2020, afterdetecting the occurrence of the synchronization event, the electronicdevice 100 may obtain identification information of the external device200 from a server 300. In operation S2030, the electronic device 100 maydisplay the obtained identification information of the external device200 to be distinguishable from the information (hereinafter, referred toas “personal information” for convenience of description) about the userof the electronic device 100 and/or his acquaintances. In addition, asfor the details, which are not described in connection with FIG. 20, thedescription of FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C may be applied in the same way.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an electronic device 2100 according tovarious exemplary embodiments. The electronic device 2100 may configure,for example, the entirety or part of the electronic device 100 shown inFIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 21, the electronic device 2100 may include atleast one Application Processor (AP) 2110, a communicator 2120, aSubscriber Identification Module (SIM) card 2124, a memory 2130, asensor 2140, an input device 2150, a display 2160, an interface 2170, anaudio device 2180, a camera 2191, a power manager 2195, a battery 2196,an indicator 2197, and a motor 2198.

The AP 2110 may control a plurality of hardware or software componentsconnected to the AP 2110 by driving the operating system or applicationprogram, and may process and compute a variety of data includingmultimedia data. The AP 2110 may be implemented as, for example, Systemon Chip (SoC). In an exemplary embodiment, the AP 2110 may furtherinclude a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU, not shown).

The communicator 2120 (e.g., the communication interface 120) mayperform data transmission/reception in communication between theelectronic device 2100 (e.g., the electronic device 100) and otherelectronic devices (e.g., the external electronic device 200 or theserver 300) connected thereto over the network. In an exemplaryembodiment, the communicator 2120 may include a cellular module 2121, aWiFi module 2123, a BT module 2125, a GPS module 2127, an NFC module2128, and a Radio Frequency (RF) module 2129.

The cellular module 2121 may provide a voice call, a video call, textservice, an Internet service, or the like over the network (e.g., LTE,LTE-A, CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS, WiBro, GSM, or the like). The cellular module2121 may perform identification and authentication on the electronicdevices in the communication network using, for example, a subscriberidentification module (e.g., the SIM card 2124). In an exemplaryembodiment, the cellular module 2121 may perform at least some of thefunctions that the AP 2110 can provide. For example, the cellular module2121 may perform at least some of the multimedia control functions.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cellular module 2121 may include aCommunication Processor (CP). The cellular module 2121 may beimplemented as, for example, SoC. Although components such as thecellular module 2121 (e.g., the CP), the memory 2130 or the powermanager 2195 are shown as components independent of the AP 2110 in FIG.21, the AP 2110 may be implemented to include at least some (e.g., thecellular module 2121) of the components according to one exemplaryembodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment, the AP 2110 or the cellular module 2121(e.g., the CP) may load, on a volatile memory, the command or datareceived from at least one of a non-volatile memory and other componentsconnected thereto, and process the loaded command or data. The AP 2110or the cellular module 2121 may store in a non-volatile memory the datathat is received from or generated by at least one of other components.

Each of the WiFi module 2123, the BT module 2125, the GPS module 2127,or the NFC module 2128 may include, for example, a processor forprocessing the data that is transmitted and received therethrough.Although the cellular module 2121, the WiFi module 2123, the BT module2125, the GPS module 2127 and the NFC module 2128 are shown as separatecomponents in FIG. 21, at least some (e.g., two or more components) ofthe cellular module 2121, the WiFi module 2123, the BT module 2125, theGPS module 2127 and the NFC module 2128 may be incorporated into oneIntegrated Chip (IC) or IC package according to one exemplaryembodiment. For example, at least some (e.g., a CP corresponding to thecellular module 2121 or a WiFi processor corresponding to the WiFimodule 2123) of the processors corresponding to the cellular module2121, the WiFi module 2123, the BT module 2125, the GPS module 2127 andthe NFC module 2128 may be implemented as one SoC.

The RF module 2129 may transmit and receive data, for example, RFsignals. Although not shown, the RF module 2129 may include, forexample, a transceiver, a Power Amp Module (PAM), a frequency filter, aLow Noise Amplifier (LNA), or the like. The RF module 2129 may furtherinclude parts (e.g., conductors or conducting wires) for transmittingand receiving electromagnetic waves in the free space in wirelesscommunication. Although the cellular module 2121, the WiFi module 2123,the BT module 2125, the GPS module 2127 and the NFC module 2128 areshown to share one RF module 2129 with each other in FIG. 21, at leastone of the cellular module 2121, the WiFi module 2123, the BT module2125, the GPS module 2127 and the NFC module 2128 may transmit andreceive RF signals through a separate RF module according to oneexemplary embodiment.

The SIM card 2124 may be a card including a subscriber identificationmodule, and may be inserted into a slot that is formed in a specificposition of the electronic device. The SIM card 2124 may include uniqueidentification information (e.g., an Integrated Circuit Card Identifier(ICCID)) or subscriber information (e.g., an International MobileSubscriber Identity (IMSI)).

The memory 2130 (e.g., the memory 140) may include an internal memory2132 and an external memory 2134. The internal memory 2132 may includeat least one of, for example, a volatile memory (e.g., a Dynamic RAM(DRAM), a Static RAM (SRAM), a Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM), or thelike) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an One Time Programmable ROM(OTPROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable and Programmable ROM(EPROM), an Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a maskROM, a flash ROM, a NAND flash memory, a NOR flash memory, or the like).

In an exemplary embodiment, the internal memory 2132 may be a SolidState Drive (SSD). The external memory 2134 may further include a flashdrive (e.g., Compact Flash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), Micro SecureDigital (Micro-SD), Mini Secure Digital (Mini-SD), and extreme Digital(xD), or a memory stick). The external memory 2134 may be functionallyconnected to the electronic device 2100 through a variety of interfaces.In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 2100 may furtherinclude a storage device (or storage media) such as a hard drive.

The sensor 2140 may measure a physical quantity or detect an operatingstate of the electronic device 2100, and convert the measured ordetected information into an electrical signal. The sensor 2140 mayinclude at least one of, for example, a gesture sensor 2140A, a gyrosensor 2140B, a pressure sensor 2140C, a magnetic sensor 2140D, anacceleration sensor 2140E, a grip sensor 2140F, a proximity sensor2140G, a color sensor 2140H (e.g., a Red/Green/Blue (RGB) sensor), a biosensor 2140I, a temperature/humidity sensor 2140J, an illuminance sensor2140K, and a Ultra Violet (UV) sensor 2140M. Additionally oralternatively, the sensor 2140 may include, for example, an electronicnose (E-nose) sensor (not shown), an electromyography (EMG) sensor (notshown), an electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor (not shown), anelectrocardiogram (ECG) sensor (not shown), an Infra Red (IR) sensor(not shown), iris sensor (not shown), a fingerprint sensor (not shown),or the like. The sensor 2140 may further include a control circuit forcontrolling at least one of the sensors belonging thereto.

The input device 2150 may include a touch panel 2152, a (digital) pensensor 2154, a key 2156, or an ultrasonic input device 2158. The touchpanel 2152 may recognize a touch input in at least one of, for example,capacitive, resistive, infrared and ultrasonic ways. The touch panel2152 may further include a control circuit. In the case of thecapacitive way, the touch panel 2152 may recognize the physical contactor proximity. The touch panel 2152 may further include a tactile layer.In this case, the touch panel 2152 may provide tactile feedback to theuser.

The (digital) pen sensor 2154 may be implemented by using, for example,a method the same as or similar to receiving a user's touch input, or aseparate recognition sheet. The key 2156 may include, for example, aphysical button, an optical key, or a keypad. The ultrasonic inputdevice 2158 is a device that can determine data by detecting the soundwaves with a microphone (e.g., a microphone 2188) in the electronicdevice 2100, through an input tool that generates an ultrasonic signal,and this device enables wireless recognition. In an exemplaryembodiment, the electronic device 2100 may receive a user input from anexternal device (e.g., a computer or a server) connected thereto usingthe communicator 2120.

The display 2160 (e.g., the display 130) may include a panel 2162, ahologram device 2164, or a projector 2166. The panel 2162 may be, forexample, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel, an Active-Matrix OrganicLight-Emitting Diode (AM-OLED) panel or the like. The panel 2162 may beimplemented, for example, in a flexible, transparent or wearable manner.The panel 2162 may be configured in one module together with the touchpanel 2152. The hologram device 2164 may show a stereoscopic image inthe air using the interference of light. The projector 2166 may displayan image by projecting the light onto the screen. The screen may belocated, for example, inside or outside the electronic device 2100. Inan exemplary embodiment, the display 2160 may further include a controlcircuit for controlling the panel 2162, the hologram device 2164 or theprojector 2166.

The interface 2170 may include, for example, an HDMI 2172, a USB 2174,an optical interface 2176, or a D-subminiature (D-sub) 2178. Theinterface 2170 may be incorporated, for example, into the communicationinterface 120 shown in FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively, theinterface 2170 may include, for example, a Mobile High-Definition Link(MHL) interface, a Secure Digital (SD) card/Multi-Media Card (MMC)interface, or Infrared Data Association (IrDA) interface.

The audio device 2180 may convert sounds and electronic signals in atwo-way manner. At least some of the components of the audio device 2180may be incorporated, for example, into the I/O interface 150 shown inFIG. 1. The audio device 2180 may process sound information that isinput or output through, for example, a speaker 2182, a receiver 2184,an earphone 2186, a microphone 2188, or the like.

The camera 2191 is a device that can capture still images and videos. Inan exemplary embodiment, the camera 2191 may include one or more imagesensors (e.g., a front sensor or a rear sensor), a lens (not shown), anImage Signal Processor (ISP, not shown), or a flash (e.g., an LED orxenon lamp, not shown).

The power manager 2195 may manage the power of the electronic device2100. Although not shown, the power manager 2195 may include, forexample, a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC), a chargerIntegrated Circuit (IC), or a battery or fuel gauge.

The PMIC may be mounted, for example, in an IC or SoC semiconductor. Thecharging scheme can be classified into a wired charging scheme and awireless charging scheme. The charger IC may charge a battery, and mayprevent inflow of the over-voltage or over-current from the charger. Inan exemplary embodiment, the charger IC may include a charger IC for atleast one of the wired charging scheme and the wireless charging scheme.The wireless charging scheme may include, for example, a magneticresonance scheme, a magnetic induction scheme, an electromagnetic schemeor the like, and may further include additional circuits (e.g., a coilloop, a resonant circuit, a rectifier or the like) for wirelesscharging.

The battery gauge may measure, for example, the level, charging voltage,charging current or temperature of the battery 2196. The battery 2196may store or generate electricity, and may supply power to theelectronic device 2100 using the stored or generated electricity. Thebattery 2196 may include, for example, a rechargeable battery or a solarbattery.

The indicator 2197 may indicate a specific state (e.g., a boot state, amessage state, charging state or the like) of the electronic device 2100or a part thereof (e.g., the AP 2110). The motor 2198 may convert anelectrical signal into mechanical vibrations. Although not shown, theelectronic device 2100 may include a processing unit (e.g., a GPU) formobile TV support. The processing unit for mobile TV support may processmedia data based on the standards such as, for example, DigitalMultimedia Broadcasting (DMB), Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), orMedia Flow.

Each of the above-described components of the electronic deviceaccording to various exemplary embodiments may be configured with one ormore components or elements, and names of the components may varydepending on the type of the electronic device. The electronic deviceaccording to various exemplary embodiments may be configured to includeat least one of the above-described components, and some of thecomponents may be omitted, or the electronic device may include otheradditional components. Some of the components of the electronic deviceaccording to various exemplary embodiments may be configured as oneentity by being combined, so the entity may perform the same functionsof the components as those given before the combination.

FIG. 22 illustrates a communication protocol 2200 between a plurality ofelectronic devices (e.g., an electronic device 2210 and an electronicdevice 2230) according to various exemplary embodiments. Referring toFIG. 22, the communication protocol 2200 may include, for example, adevice discovery protocol 2251, a capability exchange protocol 2253, anetwork protocol 2255, and an application protocol 2257.

In an exemplary embodiment, the device discovery protocol 2251 may be aprotocol by which electronic devices (e.g., the electronic device 2210or the electronic device 2230) can detect an external device that cancommunicate with the electronic devices, or connect with the detectedexternal device. For example, the electronic device 2210 (e.g., theelectronic device 100) may detect the electronic device 2230 (e.g., theexternal electronic device 200) as a device that can communicate withthe electronic device 2210, through a communication method (e.g., WiFi,BT, USB or the like) available in the electronic device 2210, using thedevice discovery protocol 2251. The electronic device 2210 may obtainand store identification information about the detected electronicdevice 2230 using the device discovery protocol 2251, for thecommunication connection with the electronic device 2230. The electronicdevice 2210 may establish a communication connection with the electronicdevice 2230 based on, for example, at least the identificationinformation.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the device discovery protocol 2251 maybe a protocol for mutual authentication between a plurality ofelectronic devices. For example, the electronic device 2210 may performauthentication between the electronic device 2210 and the electronicdevice 2230 based on communication information (e.g., a MAC address, aUniversally Unique Identifier (UUID), a Subsystem Identification (SSID),and Information Provider (IP) address) for a connection with at leastthe electronic device 2230.

In an exemplary embodiment, the capability exchange protocol 2253 may bea protocol for exchanging information related to the function of theservice supportable in at least one of the electronic device 2210 andthe electronic device 2230. For example, the electronic device 2210 andthe electronic device 2230 may exchange with each other the informationrelated to the function of the service that is currently provided byeach of them, using the capability exchange protocol 2253. Theexchangeable information may include identification informationindicating a specific service among a plurality of services supportablein the electronic device 2210 and the electronic device 2220. Forexample, the electronic device 2210 may receive identificationinformation for a specific service provided by the electronic device2230, from the electronic device 2230 using the capability exchangeprotocol 2253. In this case, based on the received identificationinformation, the electronic device 2210 may determine whether theelectronic device 2210 can support the specific service.

In an exemplary embodiment, the network protocol 2255 may be a protocolfor controlling a flow of the data that is, for example, transmitted andreceived to provide linked services, between the electronic devices(e.g., the electronic device 2210 and the electronic device 2230) thatare connected to enable communication. For example, at least one of theelectronic device 2210 and the electronic device 2230 may perform errorcontrol or data quality control using the network protocol 2255.Additionally or alternatively, the network protocol 2255 may determine atransport format of the data that is transmitted and received betweenthe electronic device 2210 and the electronic device 2230. At least oneof the electronic device 2210 and the electronic device 2230 may manage(e.g., connect or terminate) at least one session for mutual dataexchange using the network protocol 2255.

In an exemplary embodiment, the application protocol 2257 may be aprotocol for providing a procedure or information for exchanging datarelated to the service provided to the external device. For example, theelectronic device 2210 (e.g., the electronic device 100) may provide aservice to the electronic device 2230 (e.g., the external electronicdevice 200 or the server 300) using the application protocol 2257.

In an exemplary embodiment, the communication protocol 2200 may includea standard communication protocol, a communication protocol (e.g., acommunication protocol specified by a communication device manufactureror a network provider itself) specified by an individual or anorganization, or a combination thereof.

The term ‘module’ as used herein may refer to a unit that includes anyone or a combination of, for example, hardware, software and firmware.The ‘module’ may be interchangeably used with a term such as, forexample, unit, logic, logical block, component, or circuit. The ‘module’may be the minimum unit of an integrally configured part, or a partthereof. The ‘module’ may be the minimum unit for performing one or morefunctions, or a part thereof. The ‘module’ may be implementedmechanically or electronically. For example, the ‘module’ according tovarious exemplary embodiments may include at least one of anApplication-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip, Field-ProgrammableGate Arrays (FPGAs), or a programmable-logic device, which are known orwill be developed in the future, and which perform certain operations.

In various exemplary embodiments, at least a part of the apparatus(e.g., modules or functions thereof) or method (e.g., operations)according to various exemplary embodiments may be implemented, forexample, by an instruction(s) that is stored in computer-readablestorage media in the form of a programming module. If the instruction isexecuted by one or more processors (e.g., the processor 110), the one ormore processors may perform the function corresponding to theinstruction. The computer-readable storage media may be, for example,the memory 140. At least a part of the programming module may beimplemented (e.g., executed) by, for example, the processor 110. Atleast a part of the programming module may include, for example, amodule, a program, a routine, a set of instructions, or a process, forperforming one or more functions.

A computer-readable recording medium may include magnetic media (e.g.,hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape), optical media (e.g.,Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)),magneto-optical media (e.g., optical disk), and hardware devices (e.g.,Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM) and flash memory)specially configured to store and perform program instructions (e.g.,programming modules). The program instructions may include not only themachine code produced by a compiler, but also the high-level languagecode that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or thelike. The above hardware device may be configured to operate as one ormore software modules to perform operations according to variousexemplary embodiments, and vice versa.

The module or programming module according to various exemplaryembodiments may include at least one of the above-described components,or some of them may be omitted. Alternatively, the module or programmingmodule may further include other additional components. Operationsperformed by the module, programming module or other componentsaccording to various exemplary embodiments may be executed in asequential, parallel, iterative, or heuristic manner. Some operationsmay be executed in a different order, or may be omitted. Alternatively,other operations may be added.

In various exemplary embodiments, in a storage medium storinginstructions, the instructions are set to allow at least one processorto perform at least one operation when the instructions are executed bythe at least one processor. The at least one operation may include anoperation of transmitting an input phone number to a server over amobile network, if a call connection is input; an operation of receivingan identifier of an external device, which is issued in the server, fromthe server, if service authentication is performed as the input phonenumber is the same as a phone number of the external device registeredin the server; an operation of sending a connection request to theexternal device over the mobile network using the received identifier ofthe external device; and an operation of controlling the external deviceby sending a control command to the external device, upon receiving acompletion of access authentication from the external device.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, according to an exemplaryembodiment, the electronic device may send a connection request to anexternal device, using a phone number of the registered external device,which is issued in a server.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device may requestcontrol of the external device by performing access authentication tothe external device.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device may receivean identifier of an external device based on a phone number of theexternal device, and control the external device using the identifier ofthe external device.

According to an exemplary embodiment, since the electronic device caneasily start control of the external device using the phone number ofthe external device, a separate gateway device is not necessary andthere is no need to install a separate application.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the user of the electronic devicemay check the access history information of the external device that theuser has accessed.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device for controlling an externaldevice using a number, the electronic device comprising: a processorconfigured to: transmit an input number to a server over a mobilenetwork, in response to a connection being input; receive an identifierof the external device, which is issued by the server; send a connectionrequest to the external device over the mobile network using thereceived identifier of the external device; and control the externaldevice by sending a control command to the external device, in responseto receiving an indication regarding completion of access authenticationfrom the external device; and a communication interface configured toperform communication with the external device and the server.
 2. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured toreceive the identifier of the external device in response to serviceauthentication being performed when the input number is the same as anumber of the external device registered in the server.
 3. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein in response to receiving theindication regarding completion of access authentication from theexternal device, the processor is configured to receive a control menufrom the external device, and wherein the processor is configured toreceive a request for an authentication code from the external device,receive an input authentication code and transmit the inputauthentication code to the external device.
 4. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive a controlcommand through a control menu in response to receiving the indicationregarding completion of access authentication from the external device,and send the control command to the external device, and wherein thenumber is a phone number.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe processor is configured to control the electronic device to send anaccess request including identification information of the electronicdevice to the server through the communication interface in order togrant the electronic device access rights to the external device.
 6. Theelectronic device of claim 5, wherein the access rights to the externaldevice are determined based on the identification information of theelectronic device, which is stored in advance in the server, and grantedto the electronic device.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe processor is configured to determine whether a synchronization eventoccurs, and in response to determining that the synchronization eventoccurs, control the electronic device to receive information about theexternal device from the server through the communication interface. 8.The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising a display, whereinthe processor is configured to control the display to display thereceived information about the external device together withidentification numbers of other electronic devices, which are stored inthe electronic device.
 9. A server comprising: a communication unitcommunicator configured to perform communication with an electronicdevice and an external device; a controller is configured to: registerthe external device in the server, the external device being a controltarget, receive an identification number that is input to the electronicdevice, from the electronic device, generate and issue an identificationnumber of the registered external device, determine whether theidentification number received from the electronic device is the same asthe identification number of the registered external device in order toperform service authentication, and control the communication interfaceto transmit an identifier of the external device to the electronicdevice; and a database configured to store the issued identificationnumber of the external device.
 10. The server of claim 9, wherein thecontroller is configured to store in the database access informationincluding access rights information for controlling the external device.11. The server of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to, inresponse to receiving an access request from the electronic device,compare an identification number of the electronic device, which isincluded in the access request, with an identification number includedin the access information in order to determine whether the electronicdevice has access rights to the external device.
 12. The server of claim9, wherein the controller is configured to, in response to receiving asynchronization request from the electronic device, control thecommunication interface to transmit identification information stored inthe database to the electronic device, and wherein the number is a phonenumber.
 13. A method for controlling an external device using a number,the method comprising: transmitting, from an electronic device, an inputnumber to a server over a mobile network, in response to a connectionbeing input; receiving, at the electronic device, an identifier of theexternal device, which is issued in the server, from the server, inresponse to service authentication being performed when the input numberis the same as a number of the external device registered in the server;sending, from the electronic device, a connection request to theexternal device over the mobile network using the received identifier ofthe external device; and controlling the external device by sending acontrol command from the electronic device to the external device, inresponse to receiving an indication regarding completion of accessauthentication from the external device.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein in the receiving the identifier of the external device, which isissued in the server, from the server, the external device is registeredin the control service provided in the server, and the server issues anexternal device identifier and an external device number correspondingto the external device.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the serverdetermines whether the input number is the same as a number of theregistered external device, and in response to the input number beingthe same as the number of the registered external device, the serverperforms authentication on the input number.
 16. The method of claim 13,wherein the controlling the external device comprises: receiving acontrol command that is input through a control menu, in response toreceiving the indication regarding completion of access authenticationfrom the external device; and sending the control command to theexternal device to be executed, wherein the number is a phone number.17. The method of claim 13, further comprising sending an access requestincluding identification information of the electronic device to theserver through a communication interface so that the electronic devicemay be granted access rights to the external device.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the access rights to the external device aredetermined based on the identification information of the electronicdevice, which is stored in advance in the server, and granted to theelectronic device.
 19. The method of claim 13, further comprisingdetermining whether a synchronization event occurs, and receivingidentification information of the external device from the server inresponse to the synchronization event occurring.
 20. The method of claim17, further comprising displaying the received identificationinformation of the external device together with identification numbersof other electronic devices, which are stored in the electronic device.